'It must be remembered that the purpose of education is not to fill the minds of students with facts... it is to teach them to think, and always to think for themselves.' --- Robert Hutchins. To me, this quote represents what learning and teaching are all about. Teaching is about guiding students and helping them to make sense of the world around them through questioning, experiment, and reflection; it is not about applying formulas, memorizing definitions, or studying facts. If students can learn to think for themselves, they will be equipped with the tools they need to become life-long learners.
Adolescence is a very important and impressionable period in students' lives. As a high school teacher, I believe it is important to teach not only content knowledge but also to teach important life skills that will benefit students in the future. The most important goal of a high school teacher is to give students opportunities to learn, grow, explore, and mature. I plan to give my students these opportunities by showing them that the lessons we learn in class can be applied to everyday life and that the skills they learn in my class will be the tools they use in all their future endeavors.
I believe the best teachers are the teachers who go the extra mile to help a student after school, to attend a sporting event or the spring play, and to show their students how much they care. When I think about my educational experiences, I always think of those "stand-out" teachers who went above and beyond their required duties to help students succeed. I have been lucky to have many teachers like this who believed in me and showed me my full potential, and they are the reason I stand here today. I aspire to become such a teacher. In addition to introducing students to the beauty of science, I want to be a positive influence on my students and to help them develop confidence in their abilities.
As a scientist, I hold hands-on learning in very high esteem. It is crucial for students to learn through tangible, experimental activities. It is important for them to try, and to make mistakes, and then try again. I want my students to be able to learn from their mistakes and also learn to never give up. I believe students should learn how to become problem solvers through thinking critically and collaborating with their peers. A lesson becomes much clearer and leaves a longer lasting impression if they are able to see it, feel it, and experience it. I would like to plant a thirst for knowledge and an appreciation for science in my students. I want my students to enjoy science and to get excited about the discoveries they make. I will use my passion for chemistry and for education to motivate students to learn about and explore the world around them.
It is crucial for teachers to understand how their students learn. Teaching is not about giving knowledge, rather, it is about helping students discover and learn things through experience. Children will not learn if they do not want to or if they are not interested in the topic, so it is important for teachers to adapt to the learning styles of their students and make adjustments in their approach based on the interests the students have. I believe it is essential to view a classroom as a group of individual students with individual needs and then differentiate instruction to meet those needs. In order to do so, teachers must get to know their students and develop a personal relationship with each student. Developing individual relationships with each student helps create a more positive classroom environment because students will feel comfortable to express their needs and concerns.
Science is an ever-changing field, as is education, and therefore, learning is never-ending. I expect my students to be life-long learners, and therefore, I must model that behavior and continue to grow, learn, and challenge myself throughout my life. My passion for students and my love of science will help me grow and improve throughout my career as an educator.
Adolescence is a very important and impressionable period in students' lives. As a high school teacher, I believe it is important to teach not only content knowledge but also to teach important life skills that will benefit students in the future. The most important goal of a high school teacher is to give students opportunities to learn, grow, explore, and mature. I plan to give my students these opportunities by showing them that the lessons we learn in class can be applied to everyday life and that the skills they learn in my class will be the tools they use in all their future endeavors.
I believe the best teachers are the teachers who go the extra mile to help a student after school, to attend a sporting event or the spring play, and to show their students how much they care. When I think about my educational experiences, I always think of those "stand-out" teachers who went above and beyond their required duties to help students succeed. I have been lucky to have many teachers like this who believed in me and showed me my full potential, and they are the reason I stand here today. I aspire to become such a teacher. In addition to introducing students to the beauty of science, I want to be a positive influence on my students and to help them develop confidence in their abilities.
As a scientist, I hold hands-on learning in very high esteem. It is crucial for students to learn through tangible, experimental activities. It is important for them to try, and to make mistakes, and then try again. I want my students to be able to learn from their mistakes and also learn to never give up. I believe students should learn how to become problem solvers through thinking critically and collaborating with their peers. A lesson becomes much clearer and leaves a longer lasting impression if they are able to see it, feel it, and experience it. I would like to plant a thirst for knowledge and an appreciation for science in my students. I want my students to enjoy science and to get excited about the discoveries they make. I will use my passion for chemistry and for education to motivate students to learn about and explore the world around them.
It is crucial for teachers to understand how their students learn. Teaching is not about giving knowledge, rather, it is about helping students discover and learn things through experience. Children will not learn if they do not want to or if they are not interested in the topic, so it is important for teachers to adapt to the learning styles of their students and make adjustments in their approach based on the interests the students have. I believe it is essential to view a classroom as a group of individual students with individual needs and then differentiate instruction to meet those needs. In order to do so, teachers must get to know their students and develop a personal relationship with each student. Developing individual relationships with each student helps create a more positive classroom environment because students will feel comfortable to express their needs and concerns.
Science is an ever-changing field, as is education, and therefore, learning is never-ending. I expect my students to be life-long learners, and therefore, I must model that behavior and continue to grow, learn, and challenge myself throughout my life. My passion for students and my love of science will help me grow and improve throughout my career as an educator.